AP World Test Prep Recommendations

Hey guys, I'm taking AP World History next year and I wanted to ask for some early advice about the exam. What resources do you recommend for studying? Should I start with a specific book or online resource? Thanks in advance!

Hey there! It's great that you're starting to think about the AP World History exam early. Here are some resources and strategies that might be helpful for your studying:

1. Textbook: Make sure you thoroughly understand the content of your AP World History textbook, if you have one. Since it's designed specifically for the course, it's a useful primary source for your studying.

2. Review Books: There are a few popular review book options to consider: "Barron's AP World History," "Princeton Review's Cracking the AP World History Exam," and "5 Steps to a 5: AP World History." Each of them covers the essential content you'll need for the test, but they have different styles of presenting the material, so check out a few samples to see which one appeals to you the most.

3. Online Resources: The College Board website offers free-response questions from previous exams (along with their scoring guidelines), which can help you better understand the types of questions you'll encounter and how to tackle them. Additionally, websites like Quizlet provide flashcards for key terms, and AP World History-focused YouTube channels (such as CrashCourse World History or Heimler's History) offer video explanations and other helpful content. CollegeVine's blog also contains a detailed overview of the exam structure and content: https://blog.collegevine.com/ultimate-guide-to-the-world-history-ap-exam

4. Practice Exams: Partway through your course, try taking a full-length practice exam under timed conditions to gauge your understanding of the material and identify areas where you need more review. You can find practice exams in review books or through online sources like AP Classroom.

5. Study Groups: Consider forming a study group with your classmates so you can test each other, share resources, and discuss difficult concepts.

6. Create a Study Plan: Make a plan with a schedule to cover all the key content areas and give yourself ample time for review and practice. Divide the material into smaller chunks and work on them consistently over time.

Remember that, ultimately, the approach you take will depend on your learning style and the resources you find most helpful. And of course, your teacher is always there to suggest approaches that have worked well for past students, and to help you iron out any confusion you're feeling about especially tricky themes.

Good luck with AP World History!